St. Filippo Smaldone (1848–1923) was born in Naples, Italy, during a time of upheaval and unrest both in Italy and in the Church. He decided to become a priest, and while in seminary he took on a personal apostolate of assisting the deaf and mute community in Naples. He dedicated so much time to this work that he barely passed his exams. After his ordination he continued to assist the...

One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages, aged 13 to 30, from the homosexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them in the Catholic faith during their imprisonment for refusing the ruler’s demands. Charles first learned of Christ’s teachings...

Saints Marcellinus and Peter (sometimes called Peter the Exorcist) were two 4th century Christian martyrs in the city of Rome. Marcellinus was a priest and Peter an exorcist. They were arrested and imprisoned in the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. In the prison, they converted Arthemius, the jailer, and his wife and daughter.  Both martyrs were beheaded by order of the magistrate...

St. Camilla was born out of wedlock of a noble mother and a gentleman of the court.  She was raised in the court and received an education. She was not particularly religious and made fun of the nuns and the friars.  During the Lent of 1479, Varano listened to a sermon of Observant Franciscan friar Francesco of Urbino, whom she described as "the trumpet of the Holy...

Saint Dymphna is a Christian saint honored in Catholic and Orthodox traditions. According to tradition, she lived in the 7th century and was the daughter of a pagan Irish king and his Christian wife. She was murdered by her father. The story of Dymphna was first recorded in the 13th century by a canon of the Church of St. Aubert at Cambrai, France. It was commissioned by Guiard of Laon...